Saw Dr. Marter - who delivered Fin - this morning for my 38 week appt. Baby was measuring right on, great heart rate and my BP etc was great. He asked if I wanted him to check me and I agreed. Although I was totally bummed to hear that I was making no progress last week, this week I was fully effaced and 3 cms dialated. Whee! He told me he'd be on duty all weekend and "would love to deliver this baby for me" so I told him to go ahead and um, help things along.
I came home full of hope that SOMETHING would happen soon - but so far no dice! I was hoping to start contracting tonight and have this little guy by tomorrow, but I don't think that's in the cards. I wouldn't be surprised to go another week at this rate, but at the same time at least I know I'm making SOME progress so that's reassuring...
Friday, August 07, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
37 Week Update
So here we are at 37 weeks (well, today is 37 and one day). I had the obligatory Dr.'s appt this morning with the practices newest Dr. and he seemed nice. EXTREMELY young, but nice :) He asked me if we were planning on having more children after this one - which is only amazing because every other Dr. has just asked when I'm having my tubes tied. And usually only AFTER asking if this was an intentional pregnancy. Sigh.
Anyway, my BP and weight etc were all good; Snoopy's HR was great and he's measuring right on track so that was great to hear. I had to endure the beta strep test (ick) and so hopefully all goes well with that. He also did a surprise cervical check - I'm starting to efface and still not dialated at all. I'd be lying if I said that didn't take the wind out of my sails! I was hoping to hear that there was more going on. Of course, Yvonne, our doula, reminded me that these are all things that can change in a minute, so I'm hanging on to that! On a positive note, Snoopy is firmly lodged in my pelvis so that's very good. Fin was at a -2 station till I started pushing and I think Dash was close, so it's good to hear that this guy is at least getting ready for his grand entrance.
After having a few days where I felt like I could go on being pregnant forever if I had to, I'm now back to feeling pretty crappy. I have zero energy, probably because I can't remember the last time I actually got a decent nights sleep. I'm nauseous throughout most of the day and can't eat at all past about 5pm or I pay a mean price. My pelvis, predictably, feels like it's being pulverized by a large bowling ball and my belly is really starting to get itchy. But I have no swelling still, despite the continuing heat wave, so there's something. I've got a few things I'd like to see get done before this little guy arrives, but mostly we're just ready and waiting! I go back to the Dr. next Friday and I'll be seeing Dr. Marter who delivered Fin.
I realized this morning that 37 weeks was the last belly shot I took with Dash. And I feel so much bigger this time that I had to don the same duds and compare...
Only a touch bigger this time if that, but I definitely feel that he's lower. And then dressed to go to the Dr.
Anyway, my BP and weight etc were all good; Snoopy's HR was great and he's measuring right on track so that was great to hear. I had to endure the beta strep test (ick) and so hopefully all goes well with that. He also did a surprise cervical check - I'm starting to efface and still not dialated at all. I'd be lying if I said that didn't take the wind out of my sails! I was hoping to hear that there was more going on. Of course, Yvonne, our doula, reminded me that these are all things that can change in a minute, so I'm hanging on to that! On a positive note, Snoopy is firmly lodged in my pelvis so that's very good. Fin was at a -2 station till I started pushing and I think Dash was close, so it's good to hear that this guy is at least getting ready for his grand entrance.
After having a few days where I felt like I could go on being pregnant forever if I had to, I'm now back to feeling pretty crappy. I have zero energy, probably because I can't remember the last time I actually got a decent nights sleep. I'm nauseous throughout most of the day and can't eat at all past about 5pm or I pay a mean price. My pelvis, predictably, feels like it's being pulverized by a large bowling ball and my belly is really starting to get itchy. But I have no swelling still, despite the continuing heat wave, so there's something. I've got a few things I'd like to see get done before this little guy arrives, but mostly we're just ready and waiting! I go back to the Dr. next Friday and I'll be seeing Dr. Marter who delivered Fin.
I realized this morning that 37 weeks was the last belly shot I took with Dash. And I feel so much bigger this time that I had to don the same duds and compare...
Only a touch bigger this time if that, but I definitely feel that he's lower. And then dressed to go to the Dr.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Blankies and Buddies
As anyone with children will tell you, there is NO WAY to predict what will become their security blankets! You know, those special loveys that they can't sleep without and of which you will need to stock up on at least one back-up for the inevitable occasion where they vomit on one, lose one, or you just find yourself so disgusted that you need to wash the dang thing. When Fin was a born, my cousin Jerry sent him a blanket that had a fluffy frogs head attached. It was just the perfect size for him to snuggle up underneath and he decided almost immediately that it was his favorite. When he was a few months old, Brooks had to go to Vegas for a conference. He brought back a stuffed Steiff puppy for Fin. Puppy and Frogger were immediately those comfort items for Fin. We haven't been on a single trip without them - in fact he's never spent a night apart from them.
When I was pregnant with Dash, I saw a matching duck blankie in a store. And likewise, not long after he was born Brooks was on another trip to Vegas (although if memory serves, this was a fun one!) and brought back Bear (from the same stuffie family as Puppy). Dash's affections for Bear and Ducker are unsurprisingly nearly identical to his brothers.
So of course this baby had to have his own set of loveys. And we chose Giraffe and Pig.
And here's the family photo. I promise a more complete one when I can capture all three boys with their favorite things.
When I was pregnant with Dash, I saw a matching duck blankie in a store. And likewise, not long after he was born Brooks was on another trip to Vegas (although if memory serves, this was a fun one!) and brought back Bear (from the same stuffie family as Puppy). Dash's affections for Bear and Ducker are unsurprisingly nearly identical to his brothers.
So of course this baby had to have his own set of loveys. And we chose Giraffe and Pig.
And here's the family photo. I promise a more complete one when I can capture all three boys with their favorite things.
Friday, July 24, 2009
36 Week Update
Appropriately, I had my 36 week appointment today. From now on I go weekly - how the hell did that happen!? Everything looked good. Still no swelling for me, my BP and weight were all good, little guy is head snugly down and measuring right on schedule. I'm even feeling somewhat decent this week (knock on wood). I mean, I'm huge, sleeping is no easy feat and I long to just feel "normal" again, but I don't have too much back or pelvic pain so I'm not complaining!
However, I am definitely at the point in this pregnancy where I don't want to wear pants (eh, I hate pants even when I'm not pregnant, so maybe that's not saying much anyway). But being on the large end of the game, I also only have a few pairs that fit comfortably. That being said, by the time Brooks is home I am more often than not clad in one of my favorite tees and undies. Doesn't sound so bad, right? Well, let me tell you something about these shirts...you can only get them at the beach and they look like old sweatshirts that have had the sleeves, neck and bottom chopped off (which if I remember correctly actually was in style at one point in my high school career). But they're super comfy and don't irritate the belly...mostly because they don't cover it! And I won't even tell you how many of these I've collected. One day this week the boys were being AWFUL and Brooks made a joke about working late and I threatened to get in the car immediately and head to his office to drop them off. Part of this threat was that I wasn't going to bother to get dressed/change. He asked if I was wearing one of my favorite shirts and I said duh! And NO PANTS! We both had a good laugh at how his coworkers would respond to my crop-top-sans-pants entrance and I figured I should let you all in on the joke.
So here's my 36 week belly. In my favorite shirt, and I put pants on just for you. And yes, I am aware that it says "Ocean Rescue". I'm seriously considering wearing one of these for the main event ;)
However, I am definitely at the point in this pregnancy where I don't want to wear pants (eh, I hate pants even when I'm not pregnant, so maybe that's not saying much anyway). But being on the large end of the game, I also only have a few pairs that fit comfortably. That being said, by the time Brooks is home I am more often than not clad in one of my favorite tees and undies. Doesn't sound so bad, right? Well, let me tell you something about these shirts...you can only get them at the beach and they look like old sweatshirts that have had the sleeves, neck and bottom chopped off (which if I remember correctly actually was in style at one point in my high school career). But they're super comfy and don't irritate the belly...mostly because they don't cover it! And I won't even tell you how many of these I've collected. One day this week the boys were being AWFUL and Brooks made a joke about working late and I threatened to get in the car immediately and head to his office to drop them off. Part of this threat was that I wasn't going to bother to get dressed/change. He asked if I was wearing one of my favorite shirts and I said duh! And NO PANTS! We both had a good laugh at how his coworkers would respond to my crop-top-sans-pants entrance and I figured I should let you all in on the joke.
So here's my 36 week belly. In my favorite shirt, and I put pants on just for you. And yes, I am aware that it says "Ocean Rescue". I'm seriously considering wearing one of these for the main event ;)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Getting There...
I was thinking this morning that it's now practical to measure the remainder of this pregnancy in days. In the unfortunate event that I actually make it to my due date, I'll have 28 days left. Why is it that four weeks sounds so long to me and 28 days seems totally reasonable? I'm feeling very torn between wanting it over and also not being ready yet. Sure I'm huge and miserable, but the closer to the end it gets, the more I feel strengthened to last as long as I need to.
And this pregnancy is different. This one will be my last.
Two boys are a handful and there are plenty of days that I have serious doubts about my ability to handle this third. But I know I'll be fine in the end. But three boys is, well, a lot. Initially we had talked about waiting a few years after Dash and then having two more children close in age. This little guy jumped the gun quite a bit. I can confidently say that having four children wham-bam would be more than I could deal with. And while I've been told that it could be fun to have another later-in-life child down the road, that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. I just don't think it would be fair to have three boys so close and then a fourth far behind, always struggling to keep up. Not to mention that I'm looking forward to someday being able to have a life again for myself and being able to enjoy my husband more. Don't get me wrong, I want these boys to grow up as slowly as possible, but at the same time it's nice to be able to imagine a time in the future where Brooks and I can decide to go to a movie or dinner alone without having to plan weeks in advance and get a babysitter etc. And maybe even a night away...
And then there's Dash. Fin has always been "wiser than his years" and also far more his fathers child than mine. Don't get me wrong, we get along and where we don't get along is easy to chalk up to the fact that we're far too similar, and of course I love him in a way that I think maybe you can only love your firstborn. But I still vividly remember the shock of bringing Dash home and looking at Fin who had suddenly morphed from my baby into this giant man-child. Dash is still my baby in ways that maybe Fin never was. He's clingy where Fin was always independent. He lavishes his baby love on me with hourly "I love you mama's" (which are almost always said while holding my face or petting me in some way) and is constantly placing my arms around him and asking for security with "got me mama? Got me?" It's going to be extremely hard for him to make this adjustment and have to share me with a new baby. And there's a lingering part of me that's just not ready for him not to be my baby anymore.
So, here I am, sitting here larger than I can believe and still not entirely sure I'm ready for this pregnancy to end. And I only have 28 days or less to be ready.
And this pregnancy is different. This one will be my last.
Two boys are a handful and there are plenty of days that I have serious doubts about my ability to handle this third. But I know I'll be fine in the end. But three boys is, well, a lot. Initially we had talked about waiting a few years after Dash and then having two more children close in age. This little guy jumped the gun quite a bit. I can confidently say that having four children wham-bam would be more than I could deal with. And while I've been told that it could be fun to have another later-in-life child down the road, that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. I just don't think it would be fair to have three boys so close and then a fourth far behind, always struggling to keep up. Not to mention that I'm looking forward to someday being able to have a life again for myself and being able to enjoy my husband more. Don't get me wrong, I want these boys to grow up as slowly as possible, but at the same time it's nice to be able to imagine a time in the future where Brooks and I can decide to go to a movie or dinner alone without having to plan weeks in advance and get a babysitter etc. And maybe even a night away...
And then there's Dash. Fin has always been "wiser than his years" and also far more his fathers child than mine. Don't get me wrong, we get along and where we don't get along is easy to chalk up to the fact that we're far too similar, and of course I love him in a way that I think maybe you can only love your firstborn. But I still vividly remember the shock of bringing Dash home and looking at Fin who had suddenly morphed from my baby into this giant man-child. Dash is still my baby in ways that maybe Fin never was. He's clingy where Fin was always independent. He lavishes his baby love on me with hourly "I love you mama's" (which are almost always said while holding my face or petting me in some way) and is constantly placing my arms around him and asking for security with "got me mama? Got me?" It's going to be extremely hard for him to make this adjustment and have to share me with a new baby. And there's a lingering part of me that's just not ready for him not to be my baby anymore.
So, here I am, sitting here larger than I can believe and still not entirely sure I'm ready for this pregnancy to end. And I only have 28 days or less to be ready.
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